It’s been quiet on the blog lately! Although I love blogging, there are other goals we’re trying to meet this year.
One of our goals is to update our house. Although our #yearofno was tough, it was so worth it! We are enjoying doing things together as a family. And I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed seeing the change you can make with a coat of paint.
After such a long time of spending absolutely no money on extra things, spending even $20 on new things for the living room feels like an incredible splurge! I’m sleeping on my purchases and making sure I’m always getting the best value for my money.
Can’t wait to show you the reveal of the before and after photos on our living room! I’ll be sure to tell you how we found the best deals on everything. Funny enough, my usual thrift store finds haven’t always been the best way to go.
But enough teasers!
It’s Friday!! Time for a new edition of the 5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week series.
Let’s get down to it.
The 5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week
Paint
One of the bigger goals we have for 2018 is to paint several rooms in our home. Many of the rooms have never been painted in the 10 years we’ve lived here (!). It’s time.
I’ve heard that paint often goes on sale around Memorial Day, and the timing was right. So when I learned about a rebate at Lowes, I grabbed the paint I’ve had my eye on for over a month.
The good stuff covers well, which means you can buy less of it. And when you get a great rebate on the price, it makes the decision a no brainer!
If painting is on your to do list, I hear that Fourth of July is another time to find paint sales. So check it out!
Circus
Another big goal is intentionally spending quality time with the family. This month, we enjoyed a circus that came to our small town!
The Kelly Miller Circus travels the country, stopping in small towns. The first time they came to our little town, I was amazed that we didn’t have to drive to the city to see a great show. And the tickets were super affordable!
They no longer have the tigers and elephants they once had, but the kids still enjoyed seeing the acrobats and clowns!
Picnic
I love a good family get together! We were able to have a potluck picnic over the weekend. We were so busy that I contributed a bag of chips and a watermelon this time. Both of those things are on a good sale this time of year! But next time I’ll choose something from this list of summer potluck recipes.
Summer Activities
There are opportunities for kids to do affordable things all summer long if you know where to look. Our school district offered middle schoolers a two day chance to experience the vocational school. For just $15, they were able to learn a new skill and even got a free lunch! I can’t wait to see what they create!
Curtains
I don’t usually do the whole Kohl’s cash thing (am I missing out?), but I did some shopping there for our son’s birthday. When they gave me the Kohl’s cash, I knew I could use it for the living room project. Combined with sales, I was able to get three curtains for the living room for just $15!
Those are the 5 ways we saved money this week!
When you have to relocate your living room to the rest of the house, it sure makes your living space seem small! Some purging and rearranging should help.
Get more tips on how to organize a large family in a small house.
How did you save this week?
I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. 
Sounds like you and your family are in the swing of Summer! I can’t wait to see your reveal of the living room. I desperately need to paint, but now that I’m “an older age” it’s not easy. I hope your family continues to find fun things to do this summer!